View Full Version : Wing Commander Series
bargora
12-09-2004, 01:38 PM
Greetings, pilots. Back in the 90s I was a recruit in the LucasArts X-Wing piloting corps and completely overlooked the Wing Commander series of games. So to rectify this situation, over the past couple of years I have procured Wing Commander (SNES), Wing Commander III (PC), Wing Commander IV (PS), and Wing Commander: Prophecy (PC and GBA).
Now I'm curious about Wing Commander II. As far as I can tell, it was only released for PC and for FM Towns. Is that indeed the case? Also, can anybody straighten me out about all of the expansion packs and mission packs that came out for the various games? Finally, any comments about how the computer versions of the games compare with the console ports would be welcome.
(Note: At this point I'm just collecting, but sometime in the near future I intend to start playing 'em. So I could still run out and get the best versions.)
And are they really better in RGB?
Graham Mitchell
12-09-2004, 03:28 PM
I don't know a lot of details because I stopped playing the series after II, but the PC versions ran a bit better than the console ones. I had Wing Commander 1 for the Sega CD, which was actually very good (one of the best for that system), but the graphics engine was a little sluggish compared to the PC version. Wing Commander II on the PC is awesome, but I don't know the details on all the speech and expansion packs. When I played it, there was no speech, and the only sound effects were during combat, so I probably missed out on something. Anyway, get it if you can.
One nice thing about the PC versions was that those games have A LOT of commands, and they had to generate some pretty out there (although clever, especially with the Genesis 6-button pad) schemes for navigating the in-flight menus and controlling weapon targeting on console joypads. With the PC, you've got yr' keyboard with 80 billion keys on it, so you could just push a button--much simpler.
calthaer
12-09-2004, 04:01 PM
The Wing Commander series includes the following:
Wing Commander I
-Secret Missions 1
-Secret Missions 2
Wing Commander II
-Special Operations 1
-Special Operations 2
Wing Commander III
Wing Commander IV
Wing Commander: Prophecy
Wing Commander: Secret Ops (not sure if this is connected to another game)
Wing Commander: Privateer
-Righteous Fire
Wing Commander: Privateer II
I believe there are some speech packs for some of the games; not sure which. Some of these games (and the expansions) are fairly rare and could run you a pretty penny if you try to buy them on eBay.
Vigilante
12-09-2004, 04:48 PM
Funny, I re-installed Wing Commander II on my DOS box last month.
The game has an add-on package that gives speech to alot of the characters during the movie sequences. I played thru the entire game years ago and I was hoping to get some game time in recently.
I also have WC3 for the playstation. Came on 4 cd's I think.
mezrabad
12-09-2004, 04:48 PM
I think Privateer had a speech pack. I'd have to check my big pile of Origin 3.5 floppies . . . I'd have to find my big pile of Origin 3.5" floppies. (Just found some Martian Dreams disks today . . . I wonder if they still work ?)
OH and if you do want to play the games, you really should keep an eye out for the Kilrathi Saga. It has WC 1,2 &3 fixed to play on faster computers. Don't know if it works on XP or not.
Good luck and don't let Maniac piss you off.
SoulBlazer
12-09-2004, 04:48 PM
On a side note, Wing Commander Phophecy for the GBA just BLEW ME AWAY with those graphics! :eek 2: :eek 2: :eek 2:
SegaAges
12-09-2004, 04:48 PM
I know that wing commander 1 and 2 both have speech packs.
i must recommend wing commander: privateer. it is very excellent. it is my fav wing commander game and I have played many of them.
calthaer: you missed a few dude. of the top of my head:
wing commander academy
wing commander: armada
there are probably 1 or 2 more, but i can't think of them right now
v1rich
12-10-2004, 11:21 AM
I have Wing Commander: The Secret Missions for SNES and I thought that it was Wing Commander II. Not sure.
Jorpho
12-10-2004, 11:43 AM
Prophecy is on the GBA? How odd!
Wasn't it Academy that was on the SNES?
calthaer
12-10-2004, 02:44 PM
I did forget Academy and Armada...wasn't Academy more of a "Bard's Tale Construction Set" type of thing, though? I have it at home but can't remember.
SoulBlazer
12-10-2004, 05:16 PM
It's a very good port of Prophecy to the GBA also.
In the original PC Wing Commander, they released two add-on's. Only the firtst one, the Secret Missions, came out for the SNES, along with the game itself. WC 2 is a totally different game.
Tyr playing WC 1 on a modern computer for a good laugh. LOL
On a related note, one of the Holy Grails for PC gaming is Wing Commander Kirathi Saga. It was WC 1-3 updated to run on Windows modern systems. Did'nt sell long, goes for HUGE bucks on EBay when it pops up. :eek 2:
Jorpho
12-10-2004, 11:50 PM
On a related note, one of the Holy Grails for PC gaming is Wing Commander Kirathi Saga. It was WC 1-3 updated to run on Windows modern systems. Did'nt sell long, goes for HUGE bucks on EBay when it pops up. :eek 2:
Had redbook audio for WCI and II as well, that one did. I think part of it is up on Underdogs.
I did forget Academy and Armada...wasn't Academy more of a "Bard's Tale Construction Set" type of thing, though? I have it at home but can't remember.
It did have some sort of construction set thing in it, but there were a lot of preset missions (without any connecting storyline, of course).
ghostangelofcky
12-11-2004, 05:24 AM
Just my 2 cents about what I know
I have Wing Commander 3 for the PS1 and the 3DO, personally I liked the cockpit lay out for the 3DO version alot better, I didn't see to big of a diiference in sound either.
But you said earlier you had the PC version, I would imagine that one would be the best of the three.
bargora
12-12-2004, 02:43 AM
Whew. You weren't kidding about the Kilrathi Saga being spendy. About $100-200 on the 'bay. Although I saw one copy go for a mere $51, likely because it was missing the "flight guide". I am intrigued by the prospect of having the games in a form that would run native to Win 95 and come with the voice packs integrated, but darned if I feel like spending $100+ for the set.
What's a "reasonable" price for Kilrathi Saga, and what parts could be missing without "ruining" the set (from the gamer's perspective, not the obsessed collector's perspective)? I suppose I ought to just start looking for misspelled auctions. Kilrati, etc., heh heh.
BTW, you guys have been knowledgeable and helpful. Thanks.
soniko_karuto
12-12-2004, 03:11 AM
i have the wing commander 2, plus speech pack, and it only adds speech to some cinemas and completily all the in game taunts and everything.
I also have the pack that contains the 3 games, thanks for the heads up!!
Jorpho
12-12-2004, 10:36 AM
Is WC3 itself very rare? I know it comes on a lot of CDs.
SoulBlazer
12-12-2004, 12:54 PM
WC 3 itself is quite common. The 3DO version of the game is just as good as the PC version.
Yeah, the Kirathi Saga is'nt going to go for less then $100. If you can get it around that price, it's a fair deal.
calthaer
12-12-2004, 10:07 PM
Too bad those games are in the hands of EA - they'll probably never release a compendium of them.
Jorpho
12-13-2004, 12:25 AM
Oh? I thought EA was pretty good for bundle packs, and always has been. Granted, it's been quite a while since I've seen anything Wing Commander in said bundle packs, but if they really did release Prophecy for the GBA, they certainly haven't forgotten it.
bargora
12-13-2004, 11:44 AM
Oh? I thought EA was pretty good for bundle packs, and always has been. Granted, it's been quite a while since I've seen anything Wing Commander in said bundle packs, but if they really did release Prophecy for the GBA, they certainly haven't forgotten it.
The thing is that Prophecy was developed by Raylight Studios under license from EA and distributed by EA partner Destination Software (as far as I can tell). So I'm not sure how much that reflects an active decision by EA to keep going with WC, or if it was more like a "sure, knock yourself out" permission.
Perhaps they will replace Maniac with Madden and put out a new WC, eh?
calthaer
12-13-2004, 08:04 PM
Oh? I thought EA was pretty good for bundle packs, and always has been. Granted, it's been quite a while since I've seen anything Wing Commander in said bundle packs, but if they really did release Prophecy for the GBA, they certainly haven't forgotten it.
Where is the Ultima Collection, a re-release of Bard's Tale or other older EA games, a re-release of even newer stuff like Sid Meier's Alien Crossfire...? They may release the bundle once upon a time, but thereafter you'll never see it again. They live for the moment, it seems, with nary a thought to those clamoring for their oldies but goodies.
Jorpho
12-13-2004, 09:40 PM
Actually, Alien Crossfire was available in a bundle pack last year (although for some reason it was called the "Laptop Collection"). I guess if they stopped publishing it, it must not have sold very well...
Prior to that, I was quite impressed that they published the Top Ten Red and Blue packs, although I didn't buy either one of those either.
thegreatescape
12-14-2004, 06:38 AM
Wing Commander: Prophecy
Wing Commander: Secret Ops (not sure if this is connected to another game)
I think secret ops was a free expansion released through the origin website, and maybe available with a prophecy gold type thing that had prophecy+SO.
After the greatness that was freespace im not sure i could go back to WC though :P
sabre2922
12-14-2004, 06:52 AM
wing commander 3 was great on the 3DO beleive it or not :D
GunPanther
12-14-2004, 07:15 AM
Don't forget that there was a 're-make' of the original "Wing Commander" game available for the 3DO called "Super Wing Commander".
Think of 3DO version of the game to be more 'realistic' in terms of graphics design and overall visuals; i.e., the characters were 'painted' and looked a bit more like actual people instead of being 'animated characters'. To top things off, the ship designs were tweaked just a little bit (both the Terran Confederation and Kilrathi ship sets all had design overhauls of some sort), but the gameplay was still kind of sharp and keen.
:rockets: GunPanther :2gunfire:
Cantaloup
12-14-2004, 05:22 PM
Don't forget that there was a 're-make' of the original "Wing Commander" game available for the 3DO called "Super Wing Commander".
Super Wing Commander was also available for the Macintosh. I don't know how it compares to the 3DO version, but the Mac version supports 640x480x8 graphics.
GunPanther
12-14-2004, 07:03 PM
Don't forget that there was a 're-make' of the original "Wing Commander" game available for the 3DO called "Super Wing Commander".
Super Wing Commander was also available for the Macintosh. I don't know how it compares to the 3DO version, but the Mac version supports 640x480x8 graphics.
I didn't know that they also made it for the Mac. I thought that it was a 3DO exclusive. :\
Seriously though, if it's pretty hard to come by for the 3DO, it must be four times as difficult to find for the Mac.
:rockets: GunPanther :2gunfire:
ghostangelofcky
12-14-2004, 07:55 PM
does super wing commander have added FMV scenes?
SoulBlazer
12-14-2004, 09:26 PM
No. What's strange is that there's a code you enter in the 3DO version if it that DOES show several seconds of some FMV's -- one of a cute looking female pilot, and a couple others. It looks like there were plans to put in some FMV's but something happened to scrap those plans. Does anyone know more? I got the code from the Secrets of the 3DO book that Zach worked on.
These days most of the Wing Commander games can be acquired on the cheap in digital-only form from GOG.com. Though I still have my CD-ROM version of Wing Commander III from back in the day, through GOG I've bought WC 1, 2, 4, and Privateer.
Oh, and here's a Pro Tip for anyone who finds Wing Commander IV to be unreasonably hard: it is supposed to be! For some stupid reason, "Ace" is the default difficulty setting for the game, and the only way to change that is by pressing Alt+O during the space combat portion of the game and changing the option there. That's right, no mention in the manual, no mention of it in any of the supporting documentation, no way to change this in any other menu at any other time, only this one place with this certain key combo during the 3D portion of the game. ...I had to learn this the painful way.
I mean, seriously, who thought that having every enemy be an ace pilot at the default difficulty was a good idea? Did they just see six difficulty options (more were added for this game) and go, "Gee, six settings, the middle one must be 'normal' so let's set that as the standard difficulty!"? Ugh! :roll: